U.S. patent application number 14/640593 was filed with the patent office on 2015-09-10 for laundry treatment apparatus.
The applicant listed for this patent is LG ELECTRONICS INC.. Invention is credited to Youngjin DOH, Taewan KIM, Younghwan KWON, Jaekeun LEE.
Application Number | 20150252517 14/640593 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 52598606 |
Filed Date | 2015-09-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150252517 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
KIM; Taewan ; et
al. |
September 10, 2015 |
LAUNDRY TREATMENT APPARATUS
Abstract
A laundry treatment apparatus includes a laundry receiving unit,
a duct for supplying air to the laundry receiving unit, a first
heat exchanger for exchanging heat with air introduced into the
duct, a second heat exchanger located in the duct for exchanging
heat with air that has passed through the first heat exchanger, and
a heat transfer unit. The heat transfer unit includes a first
conductor making contact with the first heat exchanger and
connected to a positive electrode of a direct current (DC) power
source, a second conductor making contact with the first heat
exchanger and connected to a negative electrode of the DC power
source, the second conductor being separated from the first
conductor, a third conductor making contact with the second heat
exchanger, a P-type semiconductor interconnecting the first
conductor and the third conductor, and an N-type semiconductor
interconnecting the second conductor and the third conductor.
Inventors: |
KIM; Taewan; (Seoul, KR)
; DOH; Youngjin; (Seoul, KR) ; LEE; Jaekeun;
(Seoul, KR) ; KWON; Younghwan; (Seoul,
KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
LG ELECTRONICS INC. |
Seoul |
|
KR |
|
|
Family ID: |
52598606 |
Appl. No.: |
14/640593 |
Filed: |
March 6, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
34/86 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D06F 58/20 20130101;
D06F 58/26 20130101; D06F 58/206 20130101 |
International
Class: |
D06F 58/26 20060101
D06F058/26 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 6, 2014 |
KR |
10-2014-0026455 |
Claims
1. A laundry treatment apparatus comprising: a laundry receiving
unit configured to provide a space for receiving laundry; a duct
configured to supply air to the laundry receiving unit; a first
heat exchanger configured to exchange heat with air introduced into
the duct; a second heat exchanger located in the duct and
configured to exchange heat with air that has passed through the
first heat exchanger; and a heat transfer unit including: a first
conductor that makes contact with the first heat exchanger and is
connected to a positive electrode of a direct current (DC) power
source, a second conductor that makes contact with the first heat
exchanger and is connected to a negative electrode of the DC power
source, the second conductor being separated from the first
conductor, a third conductor that makes contact with the second
heat exchanger, a P-type semiconductor configured to interconnect
the first conductor and the third conductor, and an N-type
semiconductor configured to interconnect the second conductor and
the third conductor.
2. The laundry treatment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:
the duct includes an exhaust duct configured to discharge air
coming from an interior of the laundry receiving unit to an outside
of the laundry receiving unit and a supply duct configured to guide
air from the outside of the laundry receiving unit to the laundry
receiving unit; and the first heat exchanger, the second heat
exchanger, and the heat transfer unit are located inside the supply
duct.
3. The laundry treatment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:
the laundry receiving unit includes a tub placed inside a cabinet,
an inlet port and an outlet port in communication with the outside
of the laundry receiving unit, and a drum placed inside the tub and
configured to provide the space for receiving laundry; and the duct
is configured to connect the outlet port and the inlet port to each
other.
4. The laundry treatment apparatus according to claim 3, wherein:
the first heat exchanger includes a heat absorption body located
inside the duct, the first conductor and the second conductor being
secured to the heat absorption body, and heat absorption fins
protruding from the heat absorption body; and the second heat
exchanger includes a heat radiation body spaced apart from the
first heat exchanger in a longitudinal direction of the duct, the
third conductor being secured to the heat radiation body, and heat
radiation fins protruding from the heat radiation body.
5. The laundry treatment apparatus according to claim 4, wherein
the heat absorption fins and the heat radiation fins are arranged
parallel to a movement direction of air within the duct that is
moving toward the inlet port.
6. The laundry treatment apparatus according to claim 5, wherein:
the heat absorption fins include a plurality of conductive plates
spaced apart from one another by a prescribed distance; and the
heat radiation fins include a plurality of conductive plates spaced
apart from one another by a prescribed distance, one heat radiation
fin being located in a space between one heat absorption fin and
another heat absorption fin and arranged parallel to the heat
absorption fins.
7. The laundry treatment apparatus according to claim 5, wherein:
the heat absorption fins protrude from the heat absorption body
toward a lower surface of a cross section of the duct; and the heat
radiation fins protrude from the heat radiation body toward the
lower surface of the cross section of the duct.
8. The laundry treatment apparatus according to claim 3, wherein:
the first heat exchanger includes a heat absorption body located
inside the duct, heat absorption fins protruding from the heat
absorption body to a lower surface of a cross section of the duct,
and an extension body extending from the heat absorption body in a
longitudinal direction of the duct, the first conductor and the
second conductor being secured to the extension body; and the
second heat exchanger includes a heat radiation body located below
the extension body, the third conductor being secured to the heat
radiation body, and heat radiation fins protruding from the heat
radiation body toward the lower surface of the cross section of the
duct.
9. The laundry treatment apparatus according to any one of claim 1,
further comprising a heater located inside the duct and configured
to heat air that has passed through the second heat exchanger.
10. A laundry treatment apparatus comprising: a laundry receiving
unit configured to provide a space for receiving laundry; a duct
configured to supply air to the laundry receiving unit; a first
heat exchanger configured to exchange heat with air introduced into
the duct; a second heat exchanger configured to exchange heat with
air that has passed through the first heat exchanger; a heater
located inside the duct configured to heat air that has passed
through the second heat exchanger; and a heat transfer unit
including: a first conductor that makes contact with the first heat
exchanger and is connected to a positive electrode of a direct
current (DC) power source, a second conductor that makes contact
with the first heat exchanger and is connected to a negative
electrode of the DC power source, the second conductor being
separated from the first conductor, a third conductor that makes
contact with the second heat exchanger, a P-type semiconductor
configured to interconnect the first conductor and the third
conductor, and an N-type semiconductor configured to interconnect
the second conductor and the third conductor.
11. The laundry treatment apparatus according to claim 10, wherein:
the duct includes an exhaust duct configured to discharge air
coming from an interior of the laundry receiving unit to an outside
of the laundry receiving unit and a supply duct configured to guide
air from the outside of the laundry receiving unit to the laundry
receiving unit; and the first heat exchanger, the second heat
exchanger, and the heat transfer unit are located inside the supply
duct.
12. The laundry treatment apparatus according to claim 10, wherein:
the laundry receiving unit includes a tub placed inside a cabinet,
an inlet port and an outlet port in communication with the outside
of the laundry receiving unit, and a drum placed inside the tub and
configured to provide the space for receiving laundry; and the duct
is configured to connect the outlet port and the inlet port to each
other.
13. The laundry treatment apparatus according to claim 12, wherein:
the first heat exchanger includes a heat absorption body located
inside the duct, the first conductor and the second conductor being
secured to the heat absorption body, and heat absorption fins
protruding from the heat absorption body; and the second heat
exchanger includes a heat radiation body spaced apart from the
first heat exchanger in a longitudinal direction of the duct, the
third conductor being secured to the heat radiation body, and heat
radiation fins protruding from the heat radiation body.
14. The laundry treatment apparatus according to claim 13, wherein
the heat absorption fins and the heat radiation fins are arranged
parallel to a movement direction of air within the duct that is
moving toward the inlet port.
15. The laundry treatment apparatus according to claim 14, wherein:
the heat absorption fins include a plurality of conductive plates
spaced apart from one another by a prescribed distance; and the
heat radiation fins include a plurality of conductive plates spaced
apart from one another by a prescribed distance, one heat radiation
fin being located in a space between one heat absorption fin and
another heat absorption fin and arranged parallel to the heat
absorption fins.
16. The laundry treatment apparatus according to claim 14, wherein:
the heat absorption fins protrude from the heat absorption body
toward a lower surface of a cross section of the duct; and the heat
radiation fins protrude from the heat radiation body toward the
lower surface of the cross section of the duct.
17. The laundry treatment apparatus according to claim 12, wherein:
the first heat exchanger includes a heat absorption body located
inside the duct, heat absorption fins protruding from the heat
absorption body to a lower surface of a cross section of the duct,
and an extension body extending from the heat absorption body in a
longitudinal direction of the duct, the first conductor and the
second conductor being secured to the extension body; and the
second heat exchanger includes a heat radiation body located below
the extension body, the third conductor being secured to the heat
radiation body, and heat radiation fins protruding from the heat
radiation body toward the lower surface of the cross section of the
duct.
Description
[0001] Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. .sctn.119(a), this application claims
the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2014-0026455, filed
on Mar. 6, 2014, which is hereby incorporated by reference as if
fully set forth herein.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present application relates to a laundry treatment
apparatus.
BACKGROUND
[0003] A laundry treatment apparatus is a generic term for
apparatuses having a washing function and/or a drying function of
laundry (an object to be washed). Examples of the laundry treatment
apparatus include a washing machine, a drying machine, and a
combined washing and drying machine.
[0004] Laundry treatment apparatuses capable of drying laundry may
be classified into those having an exhaust drying system and those
having a circulation (condensation) drying system according to the
flow of heated air (hot air) to be supplied to laundry.
[0005] A circulation drying system is configured to remove moisture
from air discharged from a laundry receiving unit (i.e. to
dehumidify the air), to heat the dehumidified air, and to resupply
the dehumidified and heated air to the laundry receiving unit. An
exhaust drying system is configured to supply heated air to a
laundry receiving unit and to outwardly discharge the air
discharged from the laundry receiving unit rather than resupplying
the air to the laundry receiving unit.
[0006] Most conventional circulation drying systems require a
dehumidifier to cool air discharged from the laundry receiving unit
so as to remove moisture from the air as well as a heater to heat
the dehumidified air.
SUMMARY
[0007] According to one aspect, a laundry treatment apparatus
includes a laundry receiving unit configured to provide a space for
receiving laundry, a duct configured to supply air to the laundry
receiving unit, a first heat exchanger configured to exchange heat
with air introduced into the duct, a second heat exchanger located
in the duct and configured to exchange heat with air that has
passed through the first heat exchanger, and a heat transfer unit.
The heat transfer unit includes a first conductor that makes
contact with the first heat exchanger and is connected to a
positive electrode of a direct current (DC) power source, a second
conductor that makes contact with the first heat exchanger and is
connected to a negative electrode of the DC power source, the
second conductor being separated from the first conductor, a third
conductor that makes contact with the second heat exchanger, a
P-type semiconductor configured to interconnect the first conductor
and the third conductor, and an N-type semiconductor configured to
interconnect the second conductor and the third conductor.
[0008] Implementations according to this aspect may include one or
more of the following features. For example, the duct may include
an exhaust duct configured to discharge air coming from an interior
of the laundry receiving unit to an outside of the laundry
receiving unit and a supply duct configured to guide air from the
outside of the laundry receiving unit to the laundry receiving
unit, and the first heat exchanger, the second heat exchanger, and
the heat transfer unit may be located inside the supply duct. The
laundry receiving unit may include a tub placed inside a cabinet,
an inlet port and an outlet port in communication with the outside
of the laundry receiving unit, and a drum placed inside the tub and
configured to provide the space for receiving laundry, and the duct
may be configured to connect the outlet port and the inlet port to
each other. The first heat exchanger may include a heat absorption
body located inside the duct, the first conductor and the second
conductor being secured to the heat absorption body, and heat
absorption fins protruding from the heat absorption body, and the
second heat exchanger may include a heat radiation body spaced
apart from the first heat exchanger in a longitudinal direction of
the duct, the third conductor being secured to the heat radiation
body, and heat radiation fins protruding from the heat radiation
body. The heat absorption fins and the heat radiation fins may be
arranged parallel to a movement direction of air within the duct
that is moving toward the inlet port. The heat absorption fins may
include a plurality of conductive plates spaced apart from one
another by a prescribed distance, and the heat radiation fins may
include a plurality of conductive plates spaced apart from one
another by a prescribed distance, one heat radiation fin being
located in a space between one heat absorption fin and another heat
absorption fin and arranged parallel to the heat absorption fins.
The heat absorption fins may protrude from the heat absorption body
toward a lower surface of a cross section of the duct, and the heat
radiation fins may protrude from the heat radiation body toward the
lower surface of the cross section of the duct. The first heat
exchanger may include a heat absorption body located inside the
duct, heat absorption fins protruding from the heat absorption body
to a lower surface of a cross section of the duct, and an extension
body extending from the heat absorption body in a longitudinal
direction of the duct, the first conductor and the second conductor
being secured to the extension body, and the second heat exchanger
may include a heat radiation body located below the extension body,
the third conductor being secured to the heat radiation body, and
heat radiation fins protruding from the heat radiation body toward
the lower surface of the cross section of the duct. The laundry
treatment apparatus according to this aspect may further include a
heater located inside the duct and configured to heat air that has
passed through the second heat exchanger.
[0009] According to another aspect, a laundry treatment apparatus
includes a laundry receiving unit configured to provide a space for
receiving laundry, a duct configured to supply air to the laundry
receiving unit, a first heat exchanger configured to exchange heat
with air introduced into the duct, a second heat exchanger
configured to exchange heat with air that has passed through the
first heat exchanger, a heater located inside the duct configured
to heat air that has passed through the second heat exchanger, and
a heat transfer unit. The heat transfer unit includes a first
conductor that makes contact with the first heat exchanger and is
connected to a positive electrode of a DC power source, a second
conductor that makes contact with the first heat exchanger and is
connected to a negative electrode of the DC power source, the
second conductor being separated from the first conductor, a third
conductor that makes contact with the second heat exchanger, a
P-type semiconductor configured to interconnect the first conductor
and the third conductor, and an N-type semiconductor configured to
interconnect the second conductor and the third conductor.
[0010] Implementations according to this aspect may include one or
more of the following features. For example, the duct may include
an exhaust duct configured to discharge air coming from an interior
of the laundry receiving unit to an outside of the laundry
receiving unit and a supply duct configured to guide air from the
outside of the laundry receiving unit to the laundry receiving
unit, and the first heat exchanger, the second heat exchanger, and
the heat transfer unit may be located inside the supply duct. The
laundry receiving unit may include a tub placed inside a cabinet,
an inlet port and an outlet port in communication with the outside
of the laundry receiving unit, and a drum placed inside the tub and
configured to provide the space for receiving laundry, and the duct
may be configured to connect the outlet port and the inlet port to
each other. The first heat exchanger may include a heat absorption
body located inside the duct, the first conductor and the second
conductor being secured to the heat absorption body, and heat
absorption fins protruding from the heat absorption body, and the
second heat exchanger may include a heat radiation body spaced
apart from the first heat exchanger in a longitudinal direction of
the duct, the third conductor being secured to the heat radiation
body, and heat radiation fins protruding from the heat radiation
body. The heat absorption fins and the heat radiation fins may be
arranged parallel to a movement direction of air within the duct
that is moving toward the inlet port. The heat absorption fins may
include a plurality of conductive plates spaced apart from one
another by a prescribed distance, and the heat radiation fins may
include a plurality of conductive plates spaced apart from one
another by a prescribed distance, one heat radiation fin being
located in a space between one heat absorption fin and another heat
absorption fin and arranged parallel to the heat absorption fins.
The heat absorption fins may protrude from the heat absorption body
toward a lower surface of a cross section of the duct, and the heat
radiation fins may protrude from the heat radiation body toward the
lower surface of the cross section of the duct. The first heat
exchanger may include a heat absorption body located inside the
duct, heat absorption fins protruding from the heat absorption body
to a lower surface of a cross section of the duct, and an extension
body extending from the heat absorption body in a longitudinal
direction of the duct, the first conductor and the second conductor
being secured to the extension body, and the second heat exchanger
may include a heat radiation body located below the extension body,
the third conductor being secured to the heat radiation body, and
heat radiation fins protruding from the heat radiation body toward
the lower surface of the cross section of the duct.
[0011] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general
description and the following detailed description of the present
application are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to
provide further explanation of the present application as
claimed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary laundry treatment apparatus
according to the present application;
[0013] FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate an exemplary heat exchange module
included in the laundry treatment apparatus according to the
present application; and
[0014] FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrates another implementation of the
heat exchange module included in the laundry treatment apparatus
according to the present application.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0015] Hereinafter, exemplary implementations of the present
application will be described in detail with reference to the
accompanying drawings. A configuration or control method of an
apparatus that will be described below is intended to illustrate
the implementations of the present application and not intended to
limit the scope of the present application.
[0016] A laundry treatment apparatus 100 of the present application
includes a cabinet 1 defining the external appearance of the
apparatus 100, a laundry receiving unit placed inside the cabinet 1
to provide a space in which laundry (i.e. washing object or drying
object) is received, and an air supply unit 6 to supply air to the
laundry receiving unit so as to dry the laundry.
[0017] The cabinet 1 has an opening 11 for introduction/removal of
laundry and a door 13 is coupled to the cabinet 1 to open or close
the opening 11.
[0018] In a case in which the laundry treatment apparatus 100 of
the present application is designed to implement both washing and
drying of laundry, the laundry receiving unit can include a tub 2
placed inside the cabinet 1 to provide a water storage space and a
drum 3 placed inside the tub 2 to provide a laundry receiving
space. In this case, the air supply unit 6 is configured to supply
air to the tub 2.
[0019] The tub 2 may take the form of a cylinder having a tub
opening 21 corresponding to the opening 11. The tub 2 may be fixed
inside the cabinet 1 via a tub support member 15.
[0020] A gasket 23 is interposed between the tub opening 21 and the
opening 11 to prevent leakage of water stored in the tub 2 and to
prevent transmission of vibration from the tub 2 to the cabinet
1.
[0021] The drum 3 may take the form of a cylinder having a drum
opening 31 in communication with the tub opening 21. The drum is
provided at the outer periphery thereof including the circumference
thereof with through-holes 33 to communicate the inside of the drum
3 with the inside of the tub 2.
[0022] In a case in which the drum 3 is rotatably installed inside
the tub 2, a rotating shaft 35 may be installed to a rear surface
of the drum 3 (opposite to a drum surface provided with the drum
opening 31) so as to penetrate a rear surface of the tub 2.
[0023] A drive unit 4 may be installed to a rear surface of the tub
2 to rotate the rotating shaft 35. The drive unit 4 may include a
stator 41 secured to the rear surface of the tub 2, the stator 41
creating a rotation magnetic field upon receiving current from an
external power source, and a rotor 43 configured to be rotated by
the rotation magnetic field created by the stator 41, the rotating
shaft 35 being coupled to the rotor 43.
[0024] Water required for washing of laundry may be supplied to the
tub 2 through a water supply unit configured to interconnect the
tub 2 and a water source. The water stored in the tub 2 may be
outwardly discharged from the cabinet 1 through a drain unit 5.
[0025] In cases in which the laundry treatment apparatus 100 of the
present application includes a circulation drying system, the tub 2
may further include an outlet port 25 and an inlet port 27 to
communicate the inside of the tub 2 with the outside of the tub 2.
In this case, the air supply unit 6 is configured to dehumidify and
heat air discharged from the outlet port 25 and to resupply the air
to the tub 2 through the inlet port 27.
[0026] To this end, the air supply unit 6 can include a duct 61
connecting the outlet port 25 and the inlet port 27 to each other,
a fan 63 located inside the duct 61 to circulate interior air of
the tub 2, and a heat exchange module F located inside the duct 61
between the fan 63 and the inlet port 27 to sequentially implement
dehumidification and heating of air moving in the duct 61.
[0027] In some cases, when the laundry treatment apparatus 100 of
the present application includes an exhaust drying system, the
above-described duct 61 may be divided into an exhaust duct that is
connected to the outlet port 25 and a supply duct that is connected
to the inlet port 27. Such exhaust duct may be configured to
communicate the inside of the tub 2 with the outside of the cabinet
1 and the supply duct may be configured to communicate the inside
of the tub 2 with the inside of the cabinet 1 or the outside of the
cabinet 1. In this case, the fan 63 may be located inside the
exhaust duct and the heat exchange module F may be located inside
the supply duct.
[0028] Referring also to FIG. 2A, regardless of whether the laundry
treatment apparatus 100 of the present application includes a
circulation drying system or an exhaust drying system, the heat
exchange module F may include a first heat exchanger 67 to exchange
heat with air supplied through the fan 63, a second heat exchanger
65 to exchange heat with air having passed through the first heat
exchanger 67, and a heat transfer unit 69 located between the first
heat exchanger 67 and the second heat exchanger 65.
[0029] As exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 2A, the heat transfer
unit 69 according to the present application may include a first
conductor 691 coming into contact with the first heat exchanger 67,
a second conductor 693 coming into contact with the first heat
exchanger 67 and spaced apart from the first conductor 691 by a
prescribed distance, a third conductor 695 coming into contact with
the second heat exchanger 65, a P-type semiconductor 697 to
interconnect the first conductor 691 and the third conductor 695,
and an N-type semiconductor 699 to interconnect the second
conductor 693 and the third conductor 695.
[0030] The P-type semiconductor 697 refers to a material in which
the number of holes having positive charge (+charge) is greater
than the number of free electrons, and the N-type semiconductor 699
refers to a material in which the number of holes is less than the
number of free electrons.
[0031] As shown in FIG. 2A, the first conductor 691 is connected to
a positive electrode of a direct current (DC) power source S and
the second conductor 693 is connected to a negative electrode of
the DC power source S.
[0032] In the heat exchange module F having the above-described
configuration, when the DC power source S supplies direct current
to the first conductor 691 and the second conductor 693, the first
conductor 691 and the second conductor 693 are cooled and the third
conductor 695 is heated.
[0033] In this way, when the first heat exchanger 67 and the second
heat exchanger 65 are formed of conductive materials, the first
heat exchanger 67 secured to the first conductor 691 and the second
conductor 693 functions as a heat absorber to absorb external heat,
and the second heat exchanger 65 secured to the third conductor 695
functions as a heat radiator to outwardly radiate heat.
[0034] To allow the first heat exchanger 67 and the second heat
exchanger 65 as described above to respectively implement
dehumidification and heating of air introduced into the duct 61,
the first heat exchanger 67 and the second heat exchanger 65 may be
sequentially arranged in a direction from the fan 63 to the inlet
port 27.
[0035] That is, air introduced into the duct 61 through the outlet
25 may be directed to the first heat exchanger 67 by way of the fan
63 and the air having passed through the first heat exchanger 67
may sequentially pass through the second heat exchanger 65 and the
inlet port 27 so as to be resupplied to the tub 2.
[0036] To this end, the first heat exchanger 67 may include a heat
absorption body 671 located inside the duct 61, the first conductor
691 and the second conductor 693 being secured to the heat
absorption body 671, and heat absorption fins 673 protruding from
the heat absorption body 671.
[0037] In some cases, the second heat exchanger 65 may include a
heat radiation body 651 located between the heat absorption body
671 and the inlet port 27, the third conductor 695 being secured to
the heat radiation body 651, and heat radiation fins 653 protruding
from the heat radiation body 651.
[0038] The heat absorption body 671, heat absorption fins 673, heat
radiation body 651, and heat radiation fins 653 may be formed of
conductive materials and the heat absorption fins 673 and the heat
radiation fins 653 may be arranged parallel to a movement direction
X of air directed to the inlet port 27 as exemplarily illustrated
in FIG. 2B.
[0039] That is, the heat absorption fins 673 may be a plurality of
plates (conductive plates) arranged at a lower surface of the heat
absorption body 671 to extend in the longitudinal direction L of
the duct 61 and spaced apart from one another by a prescribed
distance in the width direction W of the duct 61. The heat
radiation fins 653 may be a plurality of plates (conductive plates)
arranged at a lower surface of the heat radiation body 651 to
extend in the longitudinal direction L of the duct 61 and spaced
apart from one another by a prescribed distance in the width
direction W of the duct 61. This arrangement can serve to minimize
reduction in the flow rate of air when the air passes through the
heat exchange module F.
[0040] While the heat absorption fins 673 and the heat radiation
fins 653 may be positioned on the same lines as exemplarily
illustrated in FIG. 2B, each of the heat radiation fins 653 may be
located in a space 674 between one heat absorption fin 673a and
another heat absorption fin 673b, in order to enhance heat exchange
efficiency.
[0041] In some cases, the first heat exchanger 67 may further
include heat absorption fins protruding from the heat absorption
body 671 to extend in the width direction W of the duct 61 and the
second heat exchanger 65 may further include heat radiation fins
protruding from the heat radiation body 651 to extend in the width
direction W of the duct 61.
[0042] However, in consideration of the fact that moisture
contained in air may be condensed at a surface of the first heat
exchanger 67 while passing through the first heat exchanger 67, the
heat absorption fins 673 may protrude from the heat absorption body
671 only to a lower surface B of the duct 61 (i.e. a lower surface
on the basis of the cross section of the duct 61). In this case,
the heat radiation fins 653 may include fins protruding from the
heat radiation body 651 to the lower surface B of the duct 61 and
fins protruding from the heat radiation body 651 to extend in the
width direction W of the duct 61.
[0043] In the laundry treatment apparatus 100 having the
above-described configuration, air introduced into the duct 61 by
the fan 63 can be dehumidified while passing through the first heat
exchanger 67 and heated while passing through the second heat
exchanger 65, thereafter being directed to laundry inside the drum
3 through the inlet port 27 and the through-holes 33.
[0044] To discharge water that has condensed due to air coming from
the duct 61 and passing through the first heat exchanger 67,
according to the present application, the heat exchange module F
may further include a sump located below the first heat exchanger
67 to store the condensed water and a discharge pipe to communicate
the sump with the outside of the cabinet 1.
[0045] FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate a heat exchange module F', which
is another implementation of the heat exchange module F included in
the laundry treatment apparatus 100 according to the present
application.
[0046] While the heat exchange module F' according to the present
implementation includes a first heat exchanger 67', a second heat
exchanger 65', and a heat transfer unit 69' in a similar manner as
that of the implementation of FIGS. 2A and 2B, positions of the
first heat exchanger 67' and the second heat exchanger 65' differ
from those in the implementation of FIGS. 2A and 2B.
[0047] The second heat exchanger 65' according to this
implementation may include a heat radiation body 651' secured to a
third conductor 695' and heat radiation fins 653' protruding from a
heat radiation body 651' to the lower surface B of the duct 61.
[0048] In more detail, the first heat exchanger 67' according to
the present implementation includes a heat absorption body 671'
located between a heat radiation body 651' and the fan 63, heat
absorption fins 673' protruding from the heat absorption body 671'
to the lower surface B of the duct 61, and an extension body 672'
extending from the heat absorption body 671' in the longitudinal
direction L of the duct 61 so as to be located above the heat
radiation body 651', a first conductor 691' and a second conductor
693' being secured to an extension body 672'.
[0049] In the heat transfer unit 69' including a P-type
semiconductor 697' and a N-type semiconductor 699', a theoretical
amount of heat absorption is 160 assuming that the amount of heat
absorption through the first heat exchanger 67' is 60 and the
amount of electric power supplied from the DC power source S is
100'.
[0050] Accordingly, since heat radiation through the second heat
exchanger 65' may increase when heat absorption through the first
heat exchanger 67' increases under application of a constant amount
of electric power to the heat transfer unit 69', the extension body
672' of the first heat exchanger 67' serves to increase the amount
of heat absorption through the first heat exchanger 67' and,
consequently, increase heat radiation through the second heat
exchanger 65'.
[0051] Characteristics of the heat absorption fins 673' and the
heat radiation fins 653' and characteristics of the heat transfer
unit 69' are similar to those of their counterparts as in the
above-described implementation of FIGS. 2A and 2B and a detailed
description thereof will be omitted herein.
[0052] The above-described implementations may further include a
heater 7 (see FIG. 1) located between the inlet port 27 and the
heat exchange module F' to heat air having passed through the
second heat exchanger 65' for the sake of rapid laundry drying.
[0053] The heater 7 may be configured to heat air using Joule
heating generated when current is supplied to, for example, a
resistive wire.
[0054] While the above-described implementations have been
described based on a case in which the laundry treatment apparatus
100 is capable of washing and drying laundry, the above-described
characteristics may be applied to a laundry treatment apparatus
that performs only drying of laundry.
[0055] In the case of the laundry treatment apparatus that performs
only drying of laundry, it is noted that a laundry receiving unit
includes only the drum 3 placed inside the cabinet 1 and the air
supply unit 6 is configured to supply air to the drum 3.
[0056] In addition, when the drum 3 needs to be rotatable inside
the cabinet 1, the cabinet 1 may additionally need to internally
incorporate a front support portion to rotatably support the drum
opening 31 and a rear support portion spaced apart from the rear
surface of the drum 3 by a prescribed distance to rotatably support
the rotating shaft 35.
[0057] In such case, the front support portion may be provided with
a support portion opening in communication with the opening 11 of
the cabinet 1, and the inlet port 27 and the outlet port 25 may be
respectively formed in the front support portion and the rear
support portion.
[0058] As is apparent from the above description, the present
application can have the effect of providing a laundry treatment
apparatus having high drying efficiency.
[0059] In addition, the present application can have the effect of
providing a laundry treatment apparatus in which a device to remove
moisture from air and a device to heat the air are integrated.
[0060] Although the exemplary implementations have been illustrated
and described as above, of course, it will be apparent to those
skilled in the art that the implementations are provided to assist
understanding of the present application and the present
application is not limited to the above described particular
implementations, and various modifications and variations can be
made in the present application without departing from the spirit
or scope of the present application, and the modifications and
variations should not be understood individually from the viewpoint
or scope of the present application.
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